The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer: Triple Review & Giveaway

Author: Michelle Hodkin
Publishing date: September 27th, 2011
ARC recieved from:Simon & Schuster
Reviewer: All

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.

She's wrong.

(Description taken from back of ARC copy)

Megzarooni's review:

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is by far the best novel I’ve read in a long time. The story line is captivating and the realism of her situation all the more terrifying. Waking up with no memory of a tragic event where you are the sole survivor is a daunting reality that could happen to any one of us.

I loved Michelle’s character Mara. Her situation is heart breaking, but her methods of dealing with it are inspiring. She strong willed, funny, and fearlessly noble. Aside from Mara, I really loved Michelle’s character Noah. He’s hot, British, smart, romantic, and has a witty humour that left me grinning from ear to ear. Everything a girl could want right? I also really enjoyed her character Jamie. Aside from the fact that he has epic nerd humour, I really wish he were in the novel more. He was one of those ideal friend characters that warns you about something, but stands by your decision when you ignore his advice. I really hope we’ll see more of him in the sequel. There were a few characters I hated like Morals, but you’ll have to read the book yourself to find out why.

Lastly Michelle Hodkin’s writing style is definitely one I could read over and over again; her words seem to flow effortlessly. Her first person perspective is amazingly vivid and I appreciated that she didn’t sugar coat the more gruesome parts of the book, it wouldn’t have had the same impact if she had. The romance scenes in the novel were tantalizingly brilliant, the action sequences thoroughly enjoyable and the shocking cliff-hanger ending left me with a craving for more. I’m excited for book two!

5/5 Hallucinations!

Brittknee's review:

Your best friend, boyfriend, and his sister are all dead. You were in a coma for four days. You have no recollection of what happened that night; Slowly the memories come back to you in your dreams. Your mother, a therapist assumes you have PDST (post dramatic stress disorder) and you are beginning to believe it. Considering you keep seeing your dead boyfriend at your window. You think switching schools is going to make things easier. First impressions are everything right? Being late on the first day, meeting a completely gorgeous asshole Noah Shaw, being greeted by the not so lovely Anna and to top it off walking into class and have a nose bleed. Mara Dyer, you were so wrong.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer was definitely one of the most bone chilling wonderful novels I’ve read. The characters were not predictable what so ever, which is the greatest quality a book can have. It kept me reading through the night, I could not put it down! I love novels that keep me guessing, thinking and of course hoping. The unbecoming of Mara Dyer did just that, and more! I was on my toes from start to finish! And at the end I was begging for more. Michelle Hodkin has a truly magnificent writing style, which is unique and extraordinarily captivating. I can't wrap my head around this novel in a review, I really can’t. The only thing I can say is: read it if you love a good mysterious , romantic and grotesque novel!

5/5 recaptured memories.

Kaependragon's review:

Before I received this book in the mail I was just like every other reader who has heard about this book—wishing that time would go faster till its release! I was literally jumping up and down in excitement when I got this in the mail!

Here are two words that I can confidently say that sum up this entire novel: book inception! As I was reading I was trying to figure out if what was happening was real or just all in Mara’s head! It was infuriating but exhilarating at the same time! I have never had a reading experience so vividly and flawlessly set out in front of me by an author that it left my mind whirling! I was blown away at how, in the first few sentences, I could be dragged (albeit willingly) into Mara’s life and become a third party member who was witnessing her struggle to determine if she is going insane or not. Personally, I don’t know how I would handle waking up one day, in a hospital and not remembering such a tragic event like her best friend, boyfriend and boyfriend’s sister deaths. At times I just wanted to strangle her parents and hug her brothers. Michelle Hodkin made me experience (slight) bipolar feelings as I read through this intricately woven story. At times I wanted to smack Mara and get her to “wake up and smell the coffee” and at other times I wanted to high-5 her.

Michelle Hodkin was able to form a character that I suffered and hated with and I even fell in love alongside Mara. I also loved how much description that went into the flashbacks and I am not ashamed to say that I have utterly and helplessly fallen in love with Noah Shaw. I mean he is everything I love in a guy: British, he has some sexy stubble, and gorgeous ‘bedroom hair’ and he was romantic, thoughtful and really witty! I am sure many other readers will come to like him just as I did. I don’t think Ms. Hodkin could have ended this novel any other way than to have a cliff-hanger; wait let me rephrase that, an emotional and suspenseful cliff-hanger. I am looking forward to see what comes next from this author! She has become one of my favorites!

This book is one of my favourite 2011 reads-ever! I truly enjoyed this novel and will definitely be keeping an eye on this author! I recommend anyone who loves danger and mystery books with a side order of romance!

5/5 flashbacks!

Giveaway Time

Now that you’ve heard what the Literature Monsters have to say about The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, how would you like a chance to win your own ARC copy? Well, Brittknee has decided to giveaway her copy to one lucky reader and it’s open INTERNATIONALLY.  

To enter:

-Fill out the form bellow before the closing date on August 23^rd, 2011 at 11:59 PM EST.

- Following is not mandatory, but if the Lit Monsters reach 250 followers before the closing date, Megzarooni will also gift a finished copy of Mara Dyer from The Book Depository. This means there will be two winners! Please note that the second winner will only receive their copy after the release date.

-In addition, we are also giving away a runner up swag pack to one lucky entry. It will include signed and unsigned swag.

-One extra entry can be obtained by tweeting: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer GIVEAWAY! International & Ends 8/23/11! http://bit.ly/pGHPuQ #LitMonsters

Contest is now closed